Police: Domestic dispute leads to officer-involved shooting

Police chief says officers prevented mass shooting casualty

A Milwaukee police officer shot a man threatening to kill his girlfriend, children and other family members Wednesday afternoon.

Milwaukee police told WISN 12 News they were called to a domestic dispute at 45th Street and Villard Avenue shortly after noon.

Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn said two of his veteran officers prevented a mass murder from happening.

“Upon arrival, two of our sergeants came upon a scene in which a window on the premise had been shot out and they were calling for help inside. (The officers) entered through the window and came upon the suspect holding a gun to the head of his girlfriend in the presence of his children and his father,” Flynn said.

Officers tried to talk to the man into putting the gun down, but they said he shot his girlfriend in the head, prompting the officers to shot the man down.

The 44-year-old girlfriend was taken to an area hospital for treatment. The man’s 65-year-old father was shot and was being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The 43-year-old suspect has life-threatening injuries. Police said he has an arrest record.

No officers were injured.

The sergeant who shot the suspect is an 18-year veteran of the force. He will be placed on administrative duty pending an investigation, which is standard operating procedure.

“Obviously, (the sergeant) feels a sense of stress. He was in a combat situation. He’d just watch this guy fire his weapon and hit his girlfriend and he saw the children flee in terror. It was an extremely volatile and dynamic situation,” said Flynn.

Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm was called to the scene.

Neighbors said the couple who lives in the house are in their 60s, and their son comes over frequently with his young children and girlfriend and are always friendly with everyone.

“It did make me nervous, yes. This just happened so fast, but I’m just hoping things get better,” said neighbor Roger McClure.

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